Apparatus for making stopper tops and the like



A. B. DODGE 2,187,680 APPARATUS FOR MAKING STOPPER TOPS AND THE LIKE Jan. 16, 1940.

Filed Jan. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 16, 1940. DODGE 2,187,680

APPARATUS FOR MAKING STOPPER TOPS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 12, 1938 a5 4.2 i-jaw 7 151 6X29 16 Z 0 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 all Patented Jan. 16, 1940 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING STOPPER TOPS AND THE LIKE Arthur Byron Dodge, Lancaster, Pa. Application January 12, 1938, Serial No. 184,677 1 Claim.. (Cl. 144-136) :1 My invention relates to an apparatus for mak ing stopper tops and the like.

Heretofore it has been the practice, in the manufacture of closure tops, to subject a wooden or moldable blank to axial and radial compression by forcing the same into a die hole of smaller diameter than the blank. It has also been the practiceto corrugate or serrate the inner wall of the cupdie so that similar corrugations and ribs are formed on the periphery of the blank when the latterhas beencompressed within the die. However, these mcthcds'of making tops by applying both axial and radialcompression, as illustrated in the patents to Villanyi, Nos. 1,989,724

t and 1,989,725, and the patent to Fletcher No.

1,899,411, have proven inadequate and unsatisfactory insofar as the formation of corrugations on the outer wall of the molded top is concerned. Due to the application of axial and radial compression to the blank it is impossible to form the knurls or corrugations the full length of the skirt or wall of the blank, because if this is done, the top of the blank is formed with a ragged edge which breaks down the Wall or skirt thereof. On the other hand, when an unknurled or plain marginal portion is left at either the top or bottom edges of the skirt of the blank, the gripping or purchasing surface of the knurled wall is likewise decreased, which increases the difliculty in grasping and removing the stopper top from the container.

The principal object of the present inventionis to provide a device for making stopper tops or caps wherein the article is formed by cutting as distinguished from compression.

Another object is the provision of a stopper top or cap forming device which permits the formation of relatively deep, uniform knurls or corrugations throughout the full length of the skirt or outer side wall of the cap.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for cutting stopper, tops wherein means is provided for cutting uniform knurls or indentations in the skirt of .the top without weakening or breaking down the wall thereof.

A further object is the provision of a stopper top forming apparatus wherein fibre stresses and severe strains in the stopper top material are eliminated during the cutting action whereby a compact and solid top produced which will not be subject to deformation when exposed to moisture or the like.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent as the specification is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the blank cutting apparatus with the plunger in raised or elevated position;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the cutting apparatus with the top plunger removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section of the assembled device showing the upper and lower plungers in engagement with a stopper top;

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a completed cap in position on a stopper; and

Figure '2" is a bottom view of a. completed stopper top.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views, numeral 1 refers to a table press, upon the substantially flat upper surface 2 of which is mounted a somewhat oblong shaped cutter plate 3. Bolts 4, extending through slots 5 in the ends of the cutter plate and through the table plate I, serve to removably support the cutter plate on the said bed plate. The cutter plate 3 is formed with a thickened or raised, circular central portion 6 extending above the upper flat top face 3 thereof in which is provided a cylindrical bore 1. The portion 6 of the plate 3 is flattened and recessed, as at 8, to form a seat for an annular cutting member 9 secured in position by screws or the like 10. A bore ll extending through the cutter member 3 and coextensive with but of smaller diameter than the bore 1, is formed with a series of sharp vertical or longitudinal cutting ribs or cogs It, for a purpose hereinafter described.

'A relatively fiat, substantially rectangular guide plate l3, secured to and supported above the cutter plate 3 by means of screws 14 and spacers I5, is adapted to receive Wooden or plastic disks IS on the top face 33 thereof from a chute or other source of supply, not shown, and a suitable reciprocating pushing means, also not shown, is provided for moving successive disks laterally over the plate to leave a single disk H5 directly over and coaxial with a bore l1, extending through the guide plate and coextensive with the bores H and I of the cutting member 9 and casing 3 respectively. The bore H is of a slightly greater internal diameter than the diameter of the disk 16 and isformed with a rounded or converging mouth I8 to facilitate entry of the disks thereinto in a manner to be presently described.

The table press I is formed with an enlarged plunger or die hole I9, disposed beneath the bore 1 of the plate 3, which is reduced at its lower end to provide a smaller opening 20.. A downwardly depending bushing 2! has its upper end 22 sleeved within the opening 20 and suitably fixedly secured in the lower end of the plunger hole I9. Slidably positioned in the bushing 2i is the stem 24 of a downwardly depending, spring tensioned plunger 23, the body portion of which is formed with an annular collar or flange 25, seated and movable within the base bore I9. The upper end of the plunger is provided with guide ribs 27 which intermesh with the aforesaid cutting ribs I2 of the cutting member 9 and slide therethrough, thereby guiding the plunger 23 in its upward and downward movements through the cutting mem her, as hereinafter described. A recess 28 in the end of the stem 24 receives the upper end of a tension coil spring 28', and an adjusting screw 29, threadedly positioned in the closed lower end 38 of the bushing, engages the lower end of the spring and provides convenient means for adjusting the tension of the plunger in an obvious manner. As the flange 25 slides within the plunger hole I9, tension of the spring 28 forces the plunger 23 upwardly until the flange abuts the underside of the cutter plate 3, as at 3!, thereby limiting the upward travel thereof. In this position, the ribs 21 formed on the head portion of the plunger extend through the cutting member 9 and the plate bore H, the top face 32 of the plunger being in the sameplane with the upper face 33 of the plate I3.

Thus, as the pushing means moves inwardly or laterally, as previously described, it advances a disk It to a position directly over the hole I! where the same is disposed on the top face 32 of the plunger 23. With a disk in the aforesaid position, an upper plunger 34, moved by suitable pressure apparatus, not shown, descends and engages the disk with its relatively flattened head portion 35. The disk It and plunger 23 are thus pushed downwardly through the hole ll, against the action of the tension spring 28, until the disk comes into contact with the cutting ribs I2 of the member 9, whereupon continued. pressure of the plunger 34 pushes the disk against the said cutting ribs I2 thereby forming relatively deep cuts, corrugations or indentations 3'! in the side wall or skirt 36 of the disk. It will of course be understood that the depth of the corrugations may be varied by increasing or decreasing the size of the cutting ribs I2. The plunger is moved downwardly into the cutting bore II until the flange 25 on the lower plunger 23 abuts the upper end 22 of bushing 2I,. at the lower end of the plunger hole I9. The movement or throw of the plunger 23 is suflicient to form cuts or indentions in the skirt of the disk of a length to extend from the top face 38 to the bottom face 29 thereof. Upon completion of the downward movement of ,he plunger 34 and after the foregoing cutting action has been completed, the movement of the upper plunger 34 is reversed thus causing the lower plunger 23, due to the spring tension, to rise and follow the upward travel of the first plunger, until the finished disk is pushed upwardly through the hole I1, The upper plunger tions in the side 34 is thereafter lifted out of engagement with the disk and the same is pushed away and another uncut disk is advanced by the pushing means to a position over the plate hole II.

' The lower face 35 of the upper plunger 34 is provided witha central circular elevation 39', for producing a cork receiving recess 40 within which a stopper or the like 4I snugly fits. A relatively narrow, annular flange 42, intermediate the elevation 39 and the periphery of the face 35, forms an annular groove 43, surrounding the cork receiving recess and'serves as a well into which glue and the like, used in cementing the stopper on the disk, may flow if forced out of recess 40, thus preventing the samefrom coming into contact with the skirt of the disk. The top face 32 of the lower plunger 23 is likewise formed with spaced, annular flanges or the like 44 which impress grooves in the top 38 of the disk, thus enhancing the appearance of the latter. However skirt depth. The removal of the disk and stopper from the container inw'nich it is used is thus greatly facilitated. In' practicing prior methods with which I am familiar corrugations were formed in stopper tops by subjecting the disks or blanks to high compression, with the result that the severe stresses and strains set up caused the disks to crack or become otherwise damaged. On the other hand, by cuttingcorrugations in the skirt of the blank it is found that the latter is relieved of such severe stresses and strains and a more uniform and superior product is produced.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my cutting apparatus, it is to be understood that various changes and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

An apparatus for cutting stopper tops and the like comprising a base, a cutter plate mounted on and secured to said base and having a bore extending therethrough, the upper end of said bore being recessed to form a seat, a relatively narrow cutting member positioned in said seat and having a cutting bore extending therethrough and substantially in axial alignment with said cutter plate bore, longitudinally arranged cutting ribs in said bore, a guiding plate positioned over and secured to said cutting plate and base, a bore in said guiding plate substantially aligned with said cutter bore, a slidable spring pressed blank supporting plunger positioned in said base and adapted to extend upwardly through said cutting and guiding bores, and guide ribs on said plunger intermeshing with the ribs in said cutting bore for guiding said plunger through said bore, and a plunger for moving a blank and supporting plunger downwardly through the bores of said guiding and cutting members for cutting corrugawall of said blank.

ARTHUR BYRON DODGE. 

